Stretching machine for flattening metal strips



J. B PICTON STRETGHING MACHINE FOR FLATTENING METAL STRIPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1948 BGJENTS July 26, 1949. J. B. PICTON STRETCHING MACHINE FOR FLATTENING METAL STRIPS Filed April 27, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AGE . 0 2 Q ;,.W.; MM

RGJENTS.

July 26, 1949. J. B. PICTON STRETCHING MACHINE FOR FLATTENING METAL STRIPS Filed April 2'7, 1948 4 sheets-sheet 5 Pm/Z a M M w L e e July 26, 1949. J, PICTON STRETCHING MACHINE FOR FLATTENING METAL STRIPS Filed April 27, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

AGENTS.

Patented July 26, 1949 OFFICE STRETCHING FOR FLATTENING METAL s'rmrs John Burley Picton,

assignor to Joshua V Wolverhampton, England, Bigwood Son, Limited,"

Wolverhampton, England Application April 27, 1948, Serial No.

In Great Britain April 28, 1947.

1 Claim.- (01.153-35) This invention relates to stretching machines for flattening metal strips, the machine comprising an elongated bed in which is a gap, trans verse guides in the gap, and an uncoiler device mounted to move in the guides, the bed of the machine being provided at a position spaced away from the gap with a device which may be adjustable along the length of the bed and which includes a drum'mounted on a horizontal axis, or a gripper for one end of the strip, the bed of the machine having at the opposite side of the gap. a gripping device, power-operated means being provided for increasing the distance between the drum and the gripping device, or between the two grippers. The arrangement is such that a coil of strip metal can be uncoiled from the uncoiler when situated in the gap, the end of the strip being taken over the drum and brought back along the bed, both ends of the strip being secured in the grippen or opposite ends of the strip may be secured in the two grippers, and after the uncoiler has been moved along the guides away from the bed, stretching is effected by increasing the distance between the drum and the gripper, or between the two grippers. Such machines are disclosed in U. S. A. specifications, Serial Nos. 753,932, issued March 22, 1948, as Patent No. 2,464,888, and 570,107, the latter issued September 14, 1948, as Patent No. 2,449,507.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction.

According to the present invention transverse guides are provided in the gap in the bed extending to both sides of the bed, and mounted to move on these guides at opposite sides of the bed I provide separate uncoiler and recoiler units, so that after the strip has been uncoiled from the uncoiler and passed over the drum, or secured to one of the grippers, the uncoiler can be moved out of the gap to one side of the bed, and both ends of the strip secured in the gripper, or the remaining end of the strip secured in the second gripper, and stretching can take place, after which the ends of the strip can be released from the gripper, or grippers, and the recoiler can be moved along the guides into the gap and the strip recoiled thereby while a fresh strip is being loaded onto the uncoiler at the opposite side of the gap ready for the next operation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan;

Figure 3 is a view in section on line 33 of Figure 1;

In the construction illustrated the invention isshown as applied to the machine disclosed'inspecification No. 753,932, and the machine com- I prises an elongated bed formed by channel-sew tiongirders H) arranged in parallel spaced rela tionship and suitably connected together. At a suitable position a gap H is provided in the bed and in this gap is mounted a transverse carrier l2, the carrier projecting at both sides of the gap. The carrier is supported at its ends upon legs l3, and the carrier is of channel section having a base l4 and sides 15 provided with inwardly-projecting flanges l6 which are placed somewhat below the tops of the sides. The carrier at opposite sides of the gap II is provided with two pairs of bearings l1, and mounted in each'pair of bearings I1 is a shaft l8 carrying a pinion t9, the shaft l8 projecting through one side l5 of the carrier and having a reduced end On which is fixed a gearwheel 20. This gearwheel is engaged by another gearwheel 2| on a shaft 22 arranged parallel to the shaft 18 and extending below it. Each shaft 22 is the driving shaft of an electric motor 23 supported in a strap 24 secured to the underside of the carrier l2, and the shaft 22 also engages in a bearing plate 25 secured to the underside of the carrier. The motors 23 are thus adapted to drive the shafts I 8 through the reduction gears 2|, 2!].

Mounted so as to slide on the flanges it of the carrier, one at each side of the gap II, are an uncoiler unit 26 and a recoiler unit 21. Each of these units is provided with flanges 28 which slide on the flanges I 6, and the flanges 28 are retained in position by strips 29 attached to the carrier.

The uncoiler unit 26 is constructed substantially as disclosed in specification No. 570,107, and it incorporates a drum for receiving the coil of metal and a number of flattening rollers between which the metal is passed, suitable means being provided for driving the drum and the rollers so as to uncoil the metal.

The recoiler unit 2'! is constructed substantially as described in specification No. 570,107, and it incorporates a positively-driven drum onto which the metal can be recoiled. The lower part of the recoiler unit 21 is provided with flanges 28 which rest upon the flanges l6 of the carrier and are retained in position by the strips 29.

On the lower side of each of th units 26, 21 is fixed centrally a rack 30, and these racks are engaged by the pinions I9.

As in specification 7 provided with an adjustable unit 3| having-an anchor hook 32 which can engage With the teeth of a rack 33 mounted between the channel I!) forming the bed, and this unit carries a drum 3 over which the strip metal to be flattened. is passed. The metal is passed over this drum and its two ends are mounted ina gripper 35-mounted No, 753,932 the bed I0 is,

on the bed at the other sideofthe gap" I l. The

gripper 35 has associated with it a hydraulicmotor 36 whereby it can be moved towardsand away from the drum 34. v

In operation the uncoiler unit 26 is moved into the gap II by its motor 23, which rotates the pinion l9 and slides the. unit 26 into the correct position. The strip then=uncoiled and passed over the drum 34 and back again and the. two ends of the strips are mounted in the gripper 35. Before this is done the member f3l' is adjusted along the bed and fixed by the anchor 32 to suit the lengthof the metal. When the metal strip has been uncoiled and passed overthe drum-34' and the two ends: secured in the gripper 35;. theuncoiler unit 26 is moved back by its motor 23' into'the position shownin Figure 2; Stretching is then effected by the hydraulic gear 36, and when stretching has been efiected the two ends of the metal are released from the gripper 35 and the recoiler unit 21 is run intov the gap .11 by operating its motor 23, which rotatesits pinion l9 which engages its rack 33. When the recoiler unit is in the gap. oneend-of the metalwhich has been flattened is taken to the recoiler unit and the recoiler unit is operated torecoil the strip, and at the same time afresh coil ofmetal to be treated is mounted on'the unooiler unit 26, which is now at the side of the gap. When recoiling has been completed the-recoiling unit is run out of the gap and the uncoiling unit 26 is run into the gap so that a fresh coil of metal can be treated.

What I claim then is:

A stretching machine for flattening metal strip comprising. an elongated bed :having a transverse gap a carrier in said gap projecting at both sides of the gap, said carrier providing guides, an uncoiler unit for the metal strip mounted to move along. said guides, a'recoiler unit for the metal strip, mountedto move along said guides, means on the bed at a position remote from the gap includinga drum over which the strip can be passed, means onthe bed at the opposite side of the gap and near to the gap for gripping both endsof the. strip,.whereby the uncoiler can be movedinto the gap and the leading end of the strip unwound and taken over the bed to the drum, passed over the drum and brought back over the bed to the gripper for both ends of thestrip, stretchingefiected by moving the gripper and the drum apart, the uncoiler removed from the gap and the recoiler moved into the gap: and one end of :the strip placed in the recoiier and thestrip coiled thereby while a new coil isbeingloaded on tothe uncoiler.

" JOHN BURLEY PICTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following'referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS 

